St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1887-10-13
Ghe Ga1edunian.
AMERICAN BOARD MEETING.
DIR. Alden's Policy sustained.--Rev. Dl
Storrs Elected President.

DIR. AIden's Policy sustained.--Rev. DIR.
Storrs Elected President.
The meetings of the American board
of commissioners for foreign missions
at Springfield closed on Friday. The
minority or liberal resolutions on the
home departments report were voted
down, 95 to AZ, and the majority reso-
lutions were passed viva vcce, thus
sustaining DIR. Alden in the'policy that
he has adopted. Rev. DR.. Richard
Storrs of Brooklyn, the foremost of
pulpit orators in the Congregational
church, was chosen president by the
largest vote ever called forth in the
history of the board and in an elo-
quent speech reserved his decision on
the matter until after some weeks con-
sideratiOn.
The great debate of the meetings
was brought out in the discussion of
the report of prudential committee ap
pointed at Minneapolis to consider the
matter of calling councils to determine
the doctrinal fitness of candidates for
mission fields. The report of the pru-
Dental committee was referred to a
committee which reported thereon
Thursday. There were two reports,
one sustaining the committee, the 9TH
err expressing grave dissatisfaction !;
each was accompanied with resOlu
tions and the question of the substi-
tuition of the minority for the majority
report furnished the occasion for de-
bate lasting through the forenoon ses-
sion and large part of the afternoon.
The majority report was as follows:
The Majority Report.
The report upon the home depart
ment is such as to afford much encOur-
agement to the friends of missions.
FOrty-fOur persOns-nine missionaries
and 35 assistant MISUNDERSTANDING
been sent by the board into the foreign
field during the past year. This is
IL more than the average number for
the past IL years. Besides these new
appointments AZ have returned to their
former fields of labor after temporary
rest in this country. There are still in
the country several who have received
appointment during the year and will
soon enter on their work, so that II
names have been added to the list of
missionary labOrers since our last an
nual meeting. 1t is reported that more
than Az years have elapsed since SO
large IL reinforcement was received
within single year, and the number
is more than twice the average of re-
cent years.
The report concerning the funds of
the board is not IS encouraging as that
concerning the supply of missionaries,
yet is not to be considered discourage
ing. There is still balance in the
treasury, but it has been secured by
making large drafts upon the SWEET
and Otis requests. 1t is gratifying to
record that the contributions from the
interior states have increased by more
than $4,000, or, with legacies by more
than 81 900. 1t may be assumed that
the remarkable increase of missionary
labOrers will call forth Il corresponding
increase of funds.
About twO-thirds of the report be-
fore us is taken up with II presentation
of the proceedings of the prudential
committee in dealing with the applica-
tons of a few missionary candidates
whose dOctrlnal views came under dis
cussiOn. 1t is more than a third of Il
century since the following was pub
licly recognized as principle on which
the agents of the board should act =
The contributors to the funds of the
board will hold the prudential com
mittee responsible for seeing that no
part of their contributions go for the
propagation of error, either in doctrine
or practice.
The prudential committee has long
been governed by this principle. 1t
has considered the doctrine of future
probation, recently preached in this
country, as erroneous and of danger
Gus tendency. This board, if its action
at Des MOines, at the last annual
meeting, may be taken as Indicative
of its sentiments, comedies with this |
view. Within the last two years sew
eral persons entertaining views favor
able to that doctrine have made apDli- |
cation for employment in the service !
of this board. The correspondence |
and the narratives laid before us in the |
report show that the committee has |
taken up each case by itself, treated
each one with attention to details, and
manifested an earnest desire to secure
the services of able and cultivated
men, such the applicants undOubt- |
eddy are. 1t is our opinion that the
committee deserves high cOmmenda-
ton for its faithfulness in this part of
its work, and that those cases in which |
the candidates failed to receive APP
pOintments the result was the only one |
consistent with the action of the board |
concerning missionary appointments at
its last annual meeting. 1t is inevita
BILE that much should be left to the dis |
erection of the prudential committee in
the selection of labOrers for missionary
fields, but in the cases here reported |
the written statements of the candi- |
dates seem to justify the action of the
committee.
We recommend the adoption of the
following resolutions
Resolved, First, that we consider it
a reason for profound gratitude to
God that so much of enthusiastic devO-
ton to the cause of missions has been
awakened among the young men and
young women of our land, and that
this board has been so amply sustained
in it's demand for funds and for labor
ers.
Second, That the board adheres to
the position taken at the last annual |
meeting at Des Moines concerning the
doctrine of future probation, re-affirms
its utterances made at that time, and
accepts the Interpretation of the pru-
dental committee as the true interpre-
tatiOn of it's action.
Third, That we recommend to the
prudential committee an undated
in guarding the board from
any cOmmittal to the approval of that
doctrine.
The Minority Report.
The rninnritu raferrad To lie rannrt |